Filing chair



July 310, H9531 R. P. scHoLFn-:LD ET AL 2,560,001

FILING CHAIR Filed sept. 1o, 1948 a sheets-sheet 1 July E0, 19514 R. P. scHoLFlELD ET Al. 2,560,00l

FILING CHAIR Filed sept. 1o, 194e I s sheets-sheet 2 @ffy- 4 5 .im mgjfm.

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July E0, E95? R. P. scHoLFlELD ET AL 2,560,0011

FILING CHAIR 'I Filed Sept. lO, 1948 3 Sl'leetS--Sheell 3 o g y I f sa 641 64 'ZZ 9 6l f @Y 71 66, @5 f? 77 .f4 a 62 l??? i; r/ 63 5@ 6.5' f7 Patented July 10, 1951 x FILING CHAIR Richard P. Scholfield, White Plains, and Lester R. Houghtaling, Yonkers, N. Y.; said Houghtaling assigner to said Scholfield Application September 10, 1948, Serial No. 48,702

Claims.

' The present invention relates to oflice equipment and, more particularly, to new and improved combinations of ling devices and chairs for operators, mutually cooperating with improved results.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a compact arrangement of filing devices and a chair for an operator adapted to give most ellicient and convenient access to the devices.

Another object is to increase the number of ling devices which may be under the immediate control of a single operator, comfortably seated for convenient access thereto.

A further object is to improve oflice chairs generally, so that they may be readily and quickly shifted to a plurality of positions, for access to various items of oiiice equipment, such as typewriters, adding machines, filing devices and the like, without the necessity of the operator moving from one chair to another or sliding the same over the oice iloor.

Another object is to provide a chair which may be shifted from one position to a plurality of other positions for access to automatic typewriters or similar office machines, or for collating and assembly work. Such a chair may be used by executives who like to work between a table and a desk or between two desks.

Another object is to provide a chair which may be used by an employee in the center of a circular information desk or the like, or at any location where it is desirable for a person to be able to cover a large area without hiking a chair across the floor and without being tied down to tracks, The invention has wide use in industrial establishments, where asingle operator desires to work at diierent places at different times, and is not confined to use with filing devices or items of office equipment. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair which is mounted for translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane relative to a xed point of support.

rAnother object of the invention is to provide a chair which is radially slidable and horizontally swingable relative to a fixed vertical axis.

Another object is to provide a chair mounted on a line parallel to, but offset from a radial line about which it is swingable, so that the chair may be brought to positions of most eicient access toV a plurality of machines, filing devices and the like, mounted on radii emanating from the center of swinging movement of the chair support.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsid- 24 and a vertical post 25 mounted in a socket 2lil eration of the following description of the speciflc embodiments, shown for purposes of illustration, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred arrangement of filing devices and a preferred type of chair and chair support;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section and elevation through the connection between the two angularly disposed horizontal supporting arms of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on Alines 3 3 of Figure y2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a somewhat modied form of chair support;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the connection between the horizontally projecting arm and the supporting swiveled sleeve of Figures 1 and 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a modification;

Figure 7 is a transverse section on line 1 1 of Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of ling cabinets I0, Il, I2, etc. are arranged along an arcuate line in plan, about a center I5. The cabinets may be integrally united or may comprise separate, wedge-shaped units assembled in side by side relation. The invention is not limited to units of this shape, as conventional, rectangular cabinets, desks or tables may be arranged on an arcuate or other plan. Each cabinet preferably has an inner compartment I6, in which a filing device is slidably mounted, so that it may be pulled outwardly to a position for convenient access by an operator. The filing devices may be of any of the well-known kinds, such as drawers, trays, or rotary wheel files. As shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, a rotary wheel-type -le I1 is mounted upon a slidable support I8 for movement out of the compartment I6, sothat an operator may have access to the cards I9, secured upon Vthe circumferential surface of the wheel by a retaining rail 20.

The chair and chair support comprise a pedestal 2| which may be secured to the floor by screws, or the like fixed to a large steel plate to facilitate its movement from place to place. The pedestal has an upwardly projecting portion 22, in which a T-tting 23 is swiveled upon a vertical axis. As shown in Figure 5, the T-iitting 23 may include a horizontally bored sleeve element The sleeve element, has,

a lower vertically bored portion 28 receiving the post 25 and secured thereby by a pin 28.

The horizontal bore 30 of the sleeve element 24 is longitudinally slotted as at 3l to receive a key 32 cooperating with a keyway 33 in a horizontally adjustable arm 34, the key being retained in position by a set screw 35 and the longitudinally adjusted position of the arm being maintained by a screw 36 entering the keyway 33.

Referring again to Figure l, the arm 34, projecting horizontally on a radius of the vertical axis I5, carries at one end a T-iitting 31, having a socket portion 38 embracing the end of the rod 34 and secured thereto by a pin 39. The head 4Q- of the T-iitting 31, constituting a sleeve element, is horizontally bored as at 4i on an axis atrghtangles to arm 34 and receives a secondarm 42 in longitudinally adjustable relation. Rotation of the second arm is prevented by a key 43, disposed in cooperating keyways 44 and 45 cut in the arm and sleeve respectively. The longitudinal adjustment of the arm 42 relative to the T-fitting 31 and the first arm 34 may be determined by a set screw 45 having its end disposed in the keyway and provided with a hand wheel 41 on its free end.

A chair seat 48 may be supported upon the upper end of a vertical post 49, swiveled in a socket member G carried by the free end of the arm 42, the post being vertically adjustable as is well understood in the art.

As a result of the construction just described, the seat 48 is mounted for translational adjustment in Vall directions in a horizontal plane, by shifting the arm 42 relative to the T-tting 31 and by shifting the latter, with the arm 34, relative to the sleeve 24 of T-i'ltting 23.

The arm 42 is parallel to, but oiset from, radii emanating from the center I5 and upon which radii the filing devices I8 are adapted to be withdrawn from their compartments i5. Hence, the chair 43 is always located at the position of most convenient access to Yeach of the ling devices, when withdrawn. In the operation oi the combination in accordance with the invention, when the operator wants to work on any particular filing device, she simply swings the chair 48 about the axis l5, to the appropriate position and pulls the particular ling device out of the cabineton a radial line toward the center l5. As a result of the oiset mounting of the chair, the ling device will be locked on her right hand side, for ready manipulation of the cards and for the convenient posting of entries.

The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is similar, except that the chair 48, the vertically swiveled supporting post 49 and the socket members 5G therefor are carried by the forward end of the radially projecting arm 34, and the T-tting 31 and the second arm 42 have been dispensed with. This arrangement is preferred in many cases where the devices upon which the operator is working should be positioned directly in front of her, instead of on one side or the other. For

instance, when an operator is working periodically with a typewriter, an adding machine, a desk or the like, it is desirable that these devices be positioned directly in front of her. With the arrangement shown in Figure', the chair 43 may be swung in an arc about the vertical axis of the pedestal 2l to positions of access to such devices, successively.

If desired, the post 25 may be extended upwardly a substantial distance, so that the T-i-ltting 23 is spaced a substantial distance above the upperA end ofthe portion 22 of the pedestal 2l and a second arm may project laterally from a vertical sleeve or collar, journalled upon the extended portion of the post, for independent swinging movement about the vertical axis thereof with a second chair supported on the end of the last mentioned arm.

The modification shown in Figures 6, '1, and 8 provides, in addition to the swinging movement of the chair supporting arm about a vertical axis, axial sliding movement thereof in a horizontal plane. A preferred slidable mount is shown in the drawings and will now be described.

An arm 54 is provided with upper and lower keyways 55, 55, in which upper and lower keys or rails 51 and `58 are held by a clamping collar "-59 on the rear end 60 of the arms by thumb The sleeve '63 at its rear end is shaped to pro-k vide an upper vertically disposed, radial slot 68 of substantial width, and a pair of lower, angularly disposed radial slots 69' and 10. A relatively wide ball bearing roller 1i is mounted in the upper slot 68, in rolling engagement with the upper rail 51 while a pair of narrower ball bearing. rollers 12. and 'i3 are mounted in the lower slots 69 and 1E), inengagement with the surface of the arm 54 and with the side faces oi" the lower rail 58. Each of the three rollers may be mounted on a pin 15, `in substantially the manner shown in Figure 8. The pins have threaded ends 16 disposed within tapped counterbores, opening outwardly into recesses 11 cut in the outer surface of sleeve63.

The arrangement at the opposite or forward end of the sleeve is the reverse of that just described. A lower, vertically disposed roller 80, disposed in a vertical slot 8| is positioned below and engages the lower rail 58, while a pair of angularlydisposed upper rollers 82 and 8.3 engage the surface of the arm 54 and the side faces of the upper rail 51.

Sheet metal casing shells 84, B5 enclose the rollers, their supporting pins, and the recesses 11.

As a result oi the construction just described, the weight of the operator seated upon the cha-ir carried by 'the forward end of the arm 54 is borne by the vertical rollers 83 and 1 I, since the arm at the forward end or the sleeve tends to move downwardly `and at the rear end of the sleeve tends to move upwardly. The angularly disposed rollers, engaging the side faces of the rails, act as guide rollers and maintain the rails in vertical alignment and prevent rotation of the arm relative to the sleeve.

In the operation of this form of the invention, an operator may shift her position throughout a relatively large area, since the chair is mounted for translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane. For instance, a plurality of business machines, ling devices or other items of oilice equipment may be mounted in U-shaped plan or other arrangement, a different distance from the hoor-supported pedestal, in which Vcase the operator may slide and swing the seat from place to place, for access to all of them, without shifting or rolling the pedestal over the floor.

The .invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the accompanying drawingsor .described above, but includes all modicaftions coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

We claim:

1. A chair for use with ling equipment, comprising a floor-supported pedestal having a vertical socket therein, a T-tting having a vertical stem axially journalled in the socket and a horizontal sleeve, an arm slidable in said sleeve for horizontal adjustment, and a seat carried by one end of said arm in horizontally spaced relation to said T-tting.

2. A chair adapted for use with ling equipment comprising a floor-supported pedestal having a vertical socket therein, a T-tting having a vertical stem axially journalled in the socket, an arm splined in said sleeve for horizontal adjustment, means for locking the arm in adjusted position, and a seat carried by one end of the arm in spaced relation to said T-tting.

3. A chair adapted for use with ling equipment comprising a floor-supported pedestal having av vertical socket therein, a T-tting having a vertical stem axially journalled in the socket, an arm splined in said sleeve for horizontal adjustment, means for locking the arm in adjusted position, and a seat carried by one end of the arm in spaced relation to said T-i'ltting, said seat being swiveled for rotation about a vertical axis.

4. A chair adapted for use with a plurality of ling devices covering a substantial iioor area, comprising a floor-supported pedestal, a horizontally bored sleeve element supported by said pedestal for rotation about a vertical axis, an arm freely slidable but restrained against rotation in said bore and a seat carried by one end of the arm, whereby the seat may have translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane by sliding and swinging movement of its supporting arm, for access to said iiling devices.

5. A chair adapted for use with a plurality of filing devices occupying a substantial area oi floor space, comprising a hoor-supported pedestal having a vertical socket therein, a T-tting having a vertical stem axially journalled in the socket, a horizontal sleeve, anti-friction means therein', an arm splined in said sleeve for relatively free axial sliding movement on said anti-friction means, and a seat carried by one end of said arm for translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane for access to all of said devices.

6. A chair in accordance with claim 1 in which said anti-friction means comprise a plurality of rollers carried by the sleeve lying in spaced radial planes embracing said arm. i

7. A chair in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said sleeve is slotted at opposite ends above and below a horizontal axial plane, and in that radially disposed rollers are journalled for rotation in the slots, in contact with the arm.

8. A chair for use with a plurality of filing devices loccupying a substantial oor space area,

comprising a licor-supported pedestal, a sleeve having a horizontal bore supported for rotation upon a vertical axis by the pedestal, a forwardly projecting, horizontal arm, means for supporting the arm in the sleeve for rotation therewith and for free longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, but restrained against rotation on its own axis, and a seat carried by the forward end of the arm and swiveled for rotation about a vertical axis, for translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane for access to al1 of said devices, said arm supporting means comprising upper and lower elongated rails carried by the arm, a pair of angularly disposed, radial rollers at each end of the sleeve engaging the arm on opposite sides of one of said rails and a radially disposed roller at each end of the sleeve engaging the outer face of the opposite rail.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 characterized in that the angularly disposed rollers at opposite ends engage the sides of the upper and lower keys respectively.

10. A chair for use with a plurality of ling devices occupying a substantial iioor space area, comprising a floor-supported pedestal, a sleeve having a horizontal bore supported for rotation upon a vertical axis by the pedestal, a forwardly projecting, horizontal arm, means for supporting the arm in the sleeve for rotation therewith and for free longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto, but restrained against rotation on its own axis, and a seat carried by the forward end of the arm and swiveled for rotation aboutY a vertical axis, for translational movement in all directions in a horizontal plane for access to all of said devices, said arm supporting means comprising upper and lower rails rigidly carried by the arm, a lower, load supporting roller carried by the forward end of the sleeve below the lower rail, a pair of angularly disposed guide rollers carried by said end of the sleeve engaging opposite sides of the upper rail, an upper loadsupporting roller carried by the rear end of the sleeve above and engaging the upper rail, and a pair of angularly disposed guide rollers at the rear 4end of the sleeve engaging opposite sides of the lower rail.

RICHARD P. SCHOLFIELD. LESTER R. I-IOUGHTALING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 689,863 Ehmann et al Dec. 31, 1901 1,015,799 Hazen Jan. 30, 1912 1,265,999 Cusanelli May 14, '1918 1,489,982 Dailey Apr. 8, 1924 2,277,929 Meyer Mar. 31, 1942 2,412,219 Hunter Dec. 10, 1946 2,412,750 Raitch Dec. 17, 1946 

